With autumn officially upon the region, pumpkins will soon invade stoops, doorsteps and the river. One rite of fall begins soon when the 2013 Damariscotta Pumpkin Festival and Regatta begins at 7 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 6 with the weigh-off at Pinkham's Plantation in Damariscotta.

Below is a schedule of events.

Friday, Oct. 11

On Friday, Oct. 11, there will be pumpkin artists painting and pumpkin boat-building happening all day on Main Street and at Pinkham's Plantation.

The Lincoln Theater will feature “Young Frankenstein” at 7 p.m., with additional showings at 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

River Company's “Blithe Spirit” will be performed at 7 p.m. at Skidompha Library on Main Street with repeat shows at 7 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday. “The Peterson Project” will play at 9 p.m. at Schooner Landing Restaurant.

Saturday, Oct. 12

Pumpkin boatbuilding and pumpkin painting will continue through the day, and the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay will feature harvest displays.

At 9 a.m., there will be children's story hour at Skidompha. At 9:30 a.m. the YMCA in Damariscotta will have its Zombie Run.

The Pumpkin Patch Express will depart at 10 a.m. from Brunswick before arriving in Newcastle at 11 a.m.

There will be street performers on Theater Street from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and children's activities at 10 a.m. on Water Street.

From 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. pumpkin desserts can be dropped off at the library for judging. At 1:30 p.m. the winners will be announced and samples will be sold.

At 2:15 p.m. the giant pumpkin parade will take over Main Street and a pumpkin pie eating contest will happen at the Gallagher and Stein lot following the parade.

Sunday, Oct. 13

From 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. there will be a pumpkin pancake breakfast on Upper Main Street. At 8 a.m. there will be an underwater pumpkin carving contest, tides permitting.

At 8:30 a.m. the pumpkin derby will zoom down Weatherbird Hill at Elm Street Plaza.

From 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Bayview Road at Great Salt Bay in Nobleboro, there will be a pumpkin hurl and catapult competition.

At 3 p.m. Round Top Farm will host the pumpkin hunt and 180-foot pumpkin drop. The Horseshoe Crabs will play at the Schooner at 6 p.m.

The main event of pumpkin festival will begin at 9 a.m. in Damariscotta Harbor when the pumpkin regatta sends the oversized squash into the drink.

Ben Bulkeley can be reached at 207-633-4620 or bbulkeley@boothbayregister.com. Follow him on Twitter: @BBRegisterBen.